Protests against the Israeli offensive on Gaza continued on 21 November, before the announcement of the ceasefire that evening. Most protests evolved into clashes, during which Palestinians threw stones at Israeli forces and the latter responded by firing tear gas canisters, rubber-coated metal bullets and live ammunition. Around 100 Palestinians, including 29 children, were injured during these clashes.
The bulk of the injuries were sustained during two protests, one inside Hebron city (47 injuries), and the other at Rachel’s Tomb, near the checkpoint controlling access to East Jerusalem from Bethlehem (25 injuries). Clashes resulting in injury to Palestinians were also recorded at the entrance to Qalqiliya city, at Beituniya checkpoint west of Ramallah city, and at Huwwara checkpoint south of Nablus. Approximately 70 percent of those injured suffered tear gas inhalation and were treated on the spot; the rest were hit by rubber-coated metal bullets (over 20 injuries), and by tear gas canisters and live ammunition (11).
Twenty-six other Palestinians were reportedly injured in clashes during the weekly demonstrations against the continued closure of the entrance to Kafr Qaddum village in Qalqiliya, against the Barrier in Bil’in, and against settlement expansion in Nabi Saleh (both in Ramallah).
According to Israeli media sources, on 22 November a Palestinian woman stabbed and injured an Israeli policeman in East Jerusalem. The woman’s arrest by Israeli forces triggered clashes with Palestinian youths, which resulted in no injuries.
Palestinian casualties by Israeli forces Killed this week: 0 Killed in 2012: 6 Killed in 2011: 11 Injured this week: 131 Injured in 2012: 2,993 Injured in 2011: 1,460 2012 vs. 2011 weekly averages: 60 vs. 30 Search and arrest operations by Israeli forces this week: over 90
Settler violence leaves eight Palestinians injured and over 350 trees damaged
On 21 November, settlers from Yitzhar attacked a school in ‘Urif village (Nablus), triggering clashes with Palestinian residents. Israeli soldiers and security staff from the settlement arrived at the scene and fired tear gas canisters towards the Palestinians, injuring seven Palestinians (all treated on the spot after inhaling tear gas). Since the beginning of 2012, OCHA recorded six settlers’ attacks on this village that resulted in Palestinian injuries or property damage, including setting fire to a mosque last week.
Also this week, settlers injured another Palestinian and damaged two cars in two stone-throwing incidents in the vicinity of settlements in the Hebron governorate. In the Shu’fat neighbourhood of East Jerusalem and Sinjil village in Ramallah, settlers punctured the tires of over 20 vehicles; they sprayed “price tag” graffiti on one of the vehicles in Shu’fat.
One incident affecting the ongoing olive harvest was also recorded this week. Villagers from Ad Deirat in Hebron reported that Israeli settlers cut down more than 250 olive trees and 100 saplings, and painted “price tag” graffiti on adjacent rocks. This brings the total number of trees damaged since the beginning of this year’s olive harvest to 1466, almost the same number as last year.
Settler-related incidents resulting in injuries or property damage: This week: 7 2012 weekly average: 7 2011 weekly average: 8 Palestinian injuries by settler violence: This week: 8 Injured in 2012: 151 Injured in 2011: 206 2012 vs. 2011 weekly averages: 3 vs. 4 Israeli settlers injured by Palestinians: This week: 0 Injured in 2012: 43 Injured in 2011: 37
No demolitions for the second consecutive week
For the second week in a row, there were no reports of Palestinian-owned structures demolished by the Israeli authorities in Area C or East Jerusalem.
Palestinian-owned structures demolished in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem This week: Demolished: 0 Demolished in 2012: 568 Of which residences: 178 People displaced in 2012: 1,014 2012 vs. 2011 demolitions (weekly av.): 12 vs. 12 2012 vs. 2011 people displaced (weekly av.): 20 vs. 21
For more information, please contact Mai Yassin at yassinm@un.org or +972 (0)2 582 9962